Friday, April 18, 2014

Easter gadget gift guide


The Compass 2 is a solidly-built stand for your iPad that folds down into a compact bag that will slip easily into a bag. It works like an easel, propping up your tablet at one of two heights, depending on whether you use the long or short third leg. The problem with being nicely made from solid metal is weight. The Compass 2 weighs 232g, without its bag, almost half an iPad Air. This means that it's perfect as a permanent feature on your desk at work, or for following online recipes in the kitchen, but probably not something you want to tote around. MS


Samsung Galaxy S5 Price £579 - www.samsung.com/uk



Samsung's newest flagship doesn't come cheap, but it packs a mighty punch. Incredibly fast download speeds, the ability to pair it with the Gear smartwatch and Gear Fit fitness band and its excellent camera makes it a strong contender for one of the best smartphones currently available. Samsung is pushing the smartphone to new levels while HTC and Apple are refining existing versions, and for that, they should be applauded. MW


Read Matt's full review of the Galaxy S5 here


Tech21 Impact Mesh smartphone case Price £24.99 - www.tech21.com


Smartphones are essential bits of kit, but fragile. Tech21 have developed a material it calls D3O which spreads out the force of an impact. My iPhone 5S was subject to an impromptu test when I dropped it at full sprint at London Bridge Rail Station and it lived to call another day despite bouncing several times. In return for this protection you do have to live with a little bulk, but the design is reasonably attractive and comes in a range of colours for different phones. MS


Spaced360 Bluetooth speakerPrice £250 - www.spaced360.com



The Spaced360 has three neo speakers and three bass radiators that are all equally spaced, providing 360-degree sound. Users can stream music to the speaker directly from their smartphone or laptop, either by choosing it from a list of available Bluetooth devices, or by touching an NFC-enabled device to the top of the unit. Overall, I can't say much to fault the Spaced360 speaker, and despite being a little expensive, this is surely one of the best options on the market.


Read Sophie's full review of the Spaced360 speakers here


Bluetooth Splash SpeakerPrice £34.95 - www.gizoo.co.uk



If the Spaced360 is out of your price range, Bluetooth Splash Speaker is a great affordable alternative. Able to be located up to 30 foot away from the paired smartphone, tablet or MP3 player, this little speaker packs a surprisingly powerful punch with its 3W output. It's compact enough to sling into a bag or even large pocket, and waterproof enough to make it an excellent musical companion for the beach, pool or shower. Be warned though - while it's splashproof, it doesn't like being fully submerged. RW


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